Electric-switch mechanism.



D. D. GORDON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED Nov121,19|5.

Patented J une 5, 1917.

HV i

INVENTUR bil.

i c or emesso, rnniivors, assren'on ro 'run `lrosr nnnfcrnro inanewcontraer, or romeno, onto, .a cool-.

'rien' or oo.

ELECTRIC-SWITCH MEISM. i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, that.

Application tiled November 21, 1916.. Serial No. 132,604.

of illinois, have invented a certain new and p useful Electric-Switch Mechanism; and l do hereby declare the following te be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, Such as will enable others skilled in the art to which lit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andv to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specihcation. 'Y

This invention relates to electric switches, and particularly to those'oi the key controlled snap-switch type.

The object of my invention is the provision of an improved switch of this character, which is simple, strong and durable in its construction, is capable of being easily and quickly assembled, vand. is admirably adapt-l ed for use in electric lamp sockets. @ther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

xWhile the invention, in its broader aspect, is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof, with two separate means of mounting the saine in an electric socket, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a central longitudinal section of an electric socket embodying the invention, with a part in full, and with the swit'ch shown in open position. Fig. 2 is an inner or upper end view of the socket-with the top members oi' the insulatmg body and shell removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the socket with the shell removed and with ar4 portion of the screw shell broken away. hig. t is a view of the plug receiving end ci? the socket. Fig. 5 is avpers ective view of the insulating body of a soc et with the screw shell removed. Fig. 6 is ai perspective view of the bridging member of the switch,

andlg. 7 is a lcentral longitudinal section of a socket embodying the invention with the shell reoved therefrom andillustrating a `modied term et mounti the key shalt therein.

, Referring to the drawis, 1 .and 2 riesig nate the base and top members of the insulating body et an electric socket, which members are moua. one on top of the other Groenen, a

and secured in such position in any suitable or convenient manner, .and cooperate to form a chamber 3 for receiving the switch mechanism. The switch body, inthe present instance, 'is shownas being mounted in the 4 customary shell, whichfcomprises separably connected base and cap sections 4 and 5, respectively. 6 designates an insulatiiig lining which is disposed between the base l of the shelland the insulating body, and also' between said shell member and the screw shell 7 forming the socket int which a plug or other attaching membe; is inserted. The screw shell 7 is secured to the outer end of the base Amember 1 .of the insulating body, inthe present instance by screws 8, 8, which also secure a segmental conductor plate 9 to the inner end of the screw shell in electrical conductive connection therewith. The plate 9 has a iinger 10 rprojecting' upward therefrom into a registering recess 11 in the insulating section 1 'within one side of the switch receiving chamber 3, where it forms a contact 16 disposed within the chamber 3 at one side thereof. l'n` spaced relation to the contact 16 is a second contact nger 17 which extends around the lower ede of the insu lating block 1, being secure9 inthe present instance, to the. under side thereof by a screw .18, and thence extending into a recese i9 in one side of the insulating section leo l. A ri.' tenal binding screw ,20 is secured to the conductor linger 17 within the recess 2lb, and a teal wire iscled, thereto through a surface recess or screw 21 provided longitudinally ingone side of the intot sulating body. p v.

rlidounted within the chamber 3 of the insulating body is a 4trame 22 which is se cured to the base section of said' body by a screw 23 and has the guide standard 2l it@ inember rising vfrom one end thereof substantially midway of the two contacts 16 and 17 andin spaced relation thereto, as shown. The opposite orinner end portion of the frame 22is provided with the upstanding legs or standards 25 and 26, which coperate to form bearings for a key shaft 27, which projects transversely of the insulating body and outward from the chamber 3 therein through an opening 28, which is provided between the adjacent faces of the insulating blocks, 1 and 2, and in transversely opposed relation to the side portion of the insulating body in which the -contacts 16 and 17 are disposed. The key 'shaft 27 is provided at its outer end with the customary thumb piece 29. For convenience in assembling, the shaft receiving openings in the upperv or free `ends of the bearing ystandards v25 and 26 are the form of notches extending from the outer ends of said standards and have the outer end portions of their side walls inwardly compressed to rotatably retain the shaft therein. t

16 and 17, forms a guide for directing the y:

reciprocatory contact making and breakin movements of a bridging piece 31, which 1s adapted to slidingly rest or bear outward against the inner side of said standard with its opposite ends extending .transverseldy from the standard in position to have sli ing contact with the 'respective contacts 16' and 17'v when moved into circuit closing position at the inner end of the guide standard. The bridging piece has its body por- -tion provided with outwardly projectin spurs or fingers 32 adjacent to itsupper an lower edges and at opposite edges of the guide standard for coperating with said standard edges -to guide the reciprocatory movements of the bridging piece. In other words, the bridging piece whichl preferably employ comprises a body portion of U-form for fitting over the innerside of the .guide standard 24 and has contact fingers projecting in .opposite directions therefrom in position to make contact with the respective @contacts 16 and 17 when moved into position for such purpose. r1`he bridging (piece 31 has its movements limited at one en by contact with the frame 22 and at its other end by the contact of its upper spurs 32, with spurs or projections 33 rovided at the upper end of the standard) 24 at the res ective edges thereof (Fig. 5).

` The bri ging piece 31|is yieldingly held in sliding engagement with the guide standard 24 by a coiled compression spring 34, which has one end in outward thrust con-v 1 ,asesor tact with the inner side of said bridging piece in opposition to said frame standard,

1n engagement with a 'centrally disposed stud `35 thereon, which is received within the end of the spring. The other end of the spring is in thrust contact with the wrist pin portion of the crank arm 30, with the wrist pin of such arm projecting into the spring end. The throw of the crank wrist pin when revolved is greater than the permissible reciprocatory movement of the bridging piece 31, so that the crank 25 and spring 34 will coperate to effect snapswitch movements of the bridging piece, first in one direction and then the other,

upon a turning of the shaft 27 in either di- ,movement of the bridging piece as it moves into contact with the contacts 16 and 17,

` such movement being sufficient to compensate for wear, thus insuring the making of a perfect contact between the circuit closing parts when the bridging piece is in position therefor.

It is evident that my switch mechanism is capable of being easily and quickly assembled as it is only necessary to place the bridging piece 31 in sliding engagement with the inner side of the guide standard 24 and to dispose the spring 34 between the bridging piece and crank arm in engagement with each, thus enabling either a new bridging piece, or spring, or both, to be quickly substituted for old parts should they become 'broken or unfit for use from any cause.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the switch construction is the same as that above described, except that instead of mounting the key shaft in the bearing standards 25 and 26 it is mounted in bearings provided between the adjacent faces of the insulating members 1 and 2. lin this construction the outward spring actuatedthrust of the shaft is opposed by a collar 36 on the shaft bearing outward against a thrust part 37provided in the insulating body. 1n this construction the frame from which the guide standard 24-projects is designated 38.

1 wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arran ement or form of the parts, as it is capab e of numerous modifications without departing from the spirit of the claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ist l. In a switch of the class described, a pair of spaced contacts, a guide standard disposed adjacent to and between said contacts, a bridging piece siidingly bearing against a side of said standard and having spurs extending around the respective side edges of the standard in guiding engagement therewith and having parts at opposite edges of the standard for contact with respective of said spaced contacts when the bridging piece is at one end of its movement, a shaft mounted transversely of said standard and having a crank arm at one end adjacent to said standard, and a coiled compression spring interposed between said bridging piece and crank arm in engagement with each and operable to impart snap switch movements first in one direction and then the other to the bridging piece when the shaft is turned.

2. In an electrical connecting member, a pair of spaced contacts, a guide disposed between said contacts, a bridging piece guided for circuit making and breaking movements by said guide, said bridging piece comprising a body part having spurs projecting transversely 'therefrom for engagement with said guide to prevent transversemovernents of the bridging piece rela-l tive thereto and having arms projecting from opposite side edges in position to make contact with respective of said stationary contacts when the bridging piece is in one position of its movement, and means having a revoluble member and a coiled compression spring connecting said revolubie member and bridging piece and operable to impart successive snap shifting movements to said bridging piece to move it into and out of circuit bridging position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

DAVID D. GORDON. 

